Episode 5

Lo, Thou Art Assailed on All Sides is the 5th episode of Shangri-La Frontier anime series.

Synopsis
Sunraku tries to rely on skills but almost dies, until Emul saves him, Sunraku being so used to solo playing he forgot Emul was his party member and can help fight. After dealing Mud Digger a lot of damage Sunraku is thrown into the air to die from the extreme fall which can’t be avoided by any skill. Luckily, Emul teleports him on top of Mud Digger, turning his fall into an overpowered headbutt that kills Mud Digger instantly. Sunraku is pleased by the victory but disappointed in himself for using Emul since she is stronger than him. Approaching Thirdrema, Emul disguises as a human girl, though Sunraku only wearing shorts still draws unwanted attention. Unfortunately the photograph of him has spread and players now know he has a unique NPC and has fought Lycagon, bringing him to the attention of Psyger-100, a member of Rei’s Lycagon hunter clan, as well as many members of Ashura Kai, an assassin clan that kill other players for fun. Sunraku is accosted by Animalia, an animal obsessed player who wants her own vorpal rabbit NPC. Distracted by her Sunraku is almost killed by Arthur Pencilgon, a level 99 player killer.

Summary
Sunraku faces the Mud Digger, but with his movements slowed, he wonders how he will fight it. As the Mud Digger charges at him, Sunraku activates Slide Move, evading the attack with a gliding motion. Since his battle with Lycagon evolved some of his skills, he decides its time to figure out how to use them. Mud Digger attacks and Sunraku uses Repel Counter, an evolved Perfect Parry, not only blocking, but also counter attacking. However with now both of his skills on a 10 second cooldown, Sunraku wonders on how to evade Mud Digger's next attack. As the monster attacks him, Emul uses Magic Edge, hitting the monster with a magic attack and knocks it down. Sunraku realizes that he isn't alone in this fight, and although he feels weird using a stronger NPC for help, he decides to use this chance. He gets close to Mid Digger and as the monster stands, he uses the evolved version of Screw Pierce, Spiral Edge. After the attack, he uses Edge Climb, sticking his weapons to the monster and climbing it. Reaching the top of the monster, he asks Emul to give them a "big boom". The Mud Digger tries to eat them, but Sunraku uses another Repel Counter. Emul then charges her Power-Boost Magic Edge, hitting the Mud Digger with more powerful magic and knocking it down again. However Sunraku also takes 8 fall damage as they land on the ground.

Sunraku is surprised to see that the Mud Digger is gone. A moment later, the ground starts to shake. Recalling Emul's words that the monster rockets out of the ground, and feeling that insta-kill attack is coming, Sunraku grabs Emul and throws her away. The Mud Digger the comes from under Sunraku, but only throws him in the air. Sunraku is surprised as it only took him 5 damage. The Mud Digger is a mole-like quadruped with the head of a shark and the whiskers of a catfish. After its HP reaches a certain threshold, it activates a special move set. It dives deep into the ground and vibrates the ground to hold players in place. It then attacks and throws one of the players in the air, leaving them to die from the fall damage. If a single player attacks it, he is always the target, which had earned Mud Digger's sobriquet - the "solo killer".

Sunraku realizes that he will die from fall damage and gets annoyed at the person who designed the boss as the player's skill doesn't matter. As Sunraku falls, he wonders on what to do, but in the end figures there is nothing he can do and awaits his death. Emul doesn't give up and manages to reach Sunraku a moment before falls and activates teleport magic, teleporting them above the Mud Digger. There is an attack called "Meteor Fall" that utilizes downward energy. Sunraku had picked a lot of downward momentum while free falling. After he was teleported by Emul, the game recognized it instead of a fall death to as a risky attack, Mistake Meteor Fall. As Sunraku falls onto Mud Digger and hits him with his head, the Mud Digger gets defeated and Sunraku survives with 1 HP.

Proceeding forward, Sunraku regains some HP using medical herbs. He notes that Emul is even stronger than he expected and ended up carrying him in that battle. Since they are reaching Thirdrema soon, Sunraku wonders on how to hide Emul and not draw attention again. Emul reveals a Mysterious Vorpal Bracelet, noting that she haven't used it in a long time and asks Sunraku to not tell anyone about it. She then uses Metamorphose and transforms into a human. Seeing her, Sunraku feels that the game is turning into harem game with an anthro bunny girl. Moment later, Emul returns to normal, explaining that its exhausting to keep that form and she will transform again when they get close to the town as she can only keep it up for four to five minutes.

Reaching Thirdrema, the guards stop them at the gate, since Sunraku is naked and it feels suspicious. Emul then starts explaining that Sunraku has a sorrowful past. Sunraku is a Super Warrior who challenged his destined rival from his past life, Lycagon. He ended up inflicted by a curse, unable to escape his destiny, he is now on a journey to remove the curse. As she keeps talking, the guards stop her, stating that while its unusual for someone to be naked, its not unheard of and let them pass. Sunraku notices that people watch him, but he doesn't feel that they are seeing him as a "weirdo". A girl, Animalia, then stops him, stating that she recognizes him.

Several hours earlier at Secondil, the two girls had taken a screenshot of Sunraku and Emul. Since they want to have pet like Emul, they upload the screenshot onto the forums and ask the more experienced players how they can tame a talking bunny like this one. Most players find Sunraku a weirdo for being naked, but they haven't heard of a talking animal. One notes that his clan leader faced Siegwurm the Sky Ruler, who was able to talk. Animalia sees it too and wonder if its cheats since there are only buddy dogs and buddy cats, but another player explains that the game is dealing pretty good with cheats, so its unlikely to be cheats. Another player scolds the girls for taking a screenshot without Sunraku's permission as that is reportable. Other players wonder about Sunraku's body tattoo as they haven't seen something like that in the options. One explains that he recalls its a curse and that you can't equip gear on the cursed parts, and an NPC had told him that its a proof that the player is acknowledged by the Night Emperor, Lycagon the Nightslayer. As Lycagon's puppet had been noticed around Secondil, they realize he must had encountered Lycagon, but wonder how he got the curse. Orcelott states that he is ready to spawn kill Sunraku, until he tells them. As Orcelott is the clan leader of Ashura Kai, a clan of player killers, some start to wonder if Sunraku will be alright. A player explains that if you kill players too much, eventually when you get killed, you will lose all your items, including the stored ones. Psyger-100 states that she would love to talk to Sunraku and if he is reading this to please contact a member of her clan with an emblem of a wolf and a sword, and they will protect him.

Animalia asks Sunraku to tell her how to tame a Vorpal Bunny and that she knows he was with a talking bunny. Sunraku is surprised that she knows about it, but he not only doesn't want to share info on the unique scenario, but also doesn't know how he triggered it. Pencilgon then attacks them both, but they manage to dodge. She then addresses Sunraku as "Revolutionary Knight Sunraku", which makes him realize she is "Pencil Knight". Pencilgon explains that in SLF, she goes by "Arthur Pencilgon" and not "Pencil Knight". Sunraku then notices that she is lvl99 and has a player kill icon.

Characters

 * Sunraku/Rakuro Hizutome
 * Emul
 * Animalia
 * Psyger-100
 * Towa Amane/Arthur Pencilgon

Monsters

 * Mud Digger

Battles

 * Sunraku & Emul vs. Mud Digger